Electric steam-engine governor



(No Model.) v 2 Shee'nS- 'Sheet- 1. F. M. GARLAND. ELECTRIC STEAM ENGINEGOVERNOR.

No. 466,781. Patented Jan. 12,1892.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

P. M. GARLAND. BLBG'IRIO STEAM ENGINE GOVERNOR.

No. 466,781. PatentedJan. 12, 1892.

qwi cnaooeo UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE;

FRANK M. GARLAND, OF NE\V HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC STEAM-ENGINE GOVERNOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 466,781, dated January12, 1892.

Application filed F br ary 26, 1891. Serial No. 382,976. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK M. GARLAND, a citizen of the United States,residing at New Haven,-in the county of New Haven and State ofConnecticut, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements inElectrical Engine- Governors, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact specification.

The invention relates to the class of electro-magn etic steam-enginegovernors, and the object is to provide a simple and easily-regulatedgovernor of this class for controlling an engine by theelectro-motiveforce of a dynamo to which the engine is connected,whereby the work ofthe engine is automatically reduced or increased, according to thedesired output of the dynamo.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan View of thegovernor. Fig. 2 is a side elevation with parts broken away to showconstruction. Fig. 3 is a detail section of a portion of the governor;and Fig. at is a side elevation of the complete system.

In the views, the letter a indicates a valvecasing, which is cast toshape of any desirable metal, with an inlet-port a, valve-seat a andoutlet-port a and is adapted to be connected to a steam-pipe between aboiler and engine. A balanced valve 1), held in the valve-seat, isprovided with a spindle b, that projects through the casing and suitablestuffing-box, and is supported by arms 0 c of the web 0, that ispreferably cast integral with the up per part of the valve-casing. Aportion of this valve-spindle 1) between the arms 0 c is threaded andbears upon the threaded portion a worm-gear d, the perforation throughwhich is threaded to fit the spindle, while the teeth on the peripheryare cut to mesh with a worm e. The worm-gear d is preferably held fromvertical movement about midway between the arms 0 c in an opening in asleeve f, that turns loosely upon the spindle b, and the worm e isrotarily supported by journals that turn in bearings g, projecting froman oscillating lever it, that is connected with the sleeve f. One end ofthe lever h is pivoted to the plunger-armaturei of a solenoid j,supported by the web 0, while theopposite end of the lever is connectedby a spring with a tension-adjusting screw 70, provided with suitableclamping-nuts k also supported by the same web. The terminal wires ofthe solenoid are connected in circuit in any proper manner with thedynamo, the output of which is to control the work of the engine.

Upon each end of the worm e is mounted a friction-wheel c 6 theperipheries of which are adapted to make contact with the face of therotating disk Z, according to the position of the lever 71 as it isoscillated by the pull of the solenoid or the spring. This disk isconnected to one end of a shaft journaled in a bearing at the end of thearm 0 the opposite end of which shaft bears a pulley m, adapted to bebelted to and driven by a pulley upon any engine, the work of which isto be controlled by the dynamo. Pivoted to the easing is a bent leverit, one end of which projects into the path of oscillation of one end ofthe lever h, while the opposite end of the lever n is connected by alink it with one end of a lever 01 the opposite end of which bears anarmature which is held to the solen' oid when a sufficient current ispassing along the coils to overcome the tension of the spring a hen thegovernor-valve is open and steam passes through it to the cylinder andthe engine starts, the pulley m, which is belted to the engine, revolvesthe disk Z continuously in one direction. As the electro-motive force ofthe dynamo which the engine drives increases, more current is shuntedand passes through the coils of the solenoid, attracting the plungerwhich pulls the lever h against the action of the spring 7s, so that thewheel e makes contact with the revolving diskf The friction of the diskand wheel rotates the worm and drives the gear that is threaded upon thevalve-spindle, causing the valve to close and cut off steam until thework of the engine is only sufficient to cause the dynamo to send acurrent through the solenoid to balance the pull of the spring 70 andhold the friction-wheels from the face of the disk. Should the currentwhich passes around the solenoid be insufficient to attract thearmature, the spring is will draw the lever h, so that the wheel 8'comes in contact with the disk and the worm and gear are rotated in anopposite direction. This ofiens the Valve and allows more steam to bepassed through the engine, so that its work may be increased and thevoltage of the dynamo raised. When the current passes around the coilsof the solenoid, the armature of theleverh is attracted so as to throwthe bent end of the lever a away from the end of the lever 7L, butshould the current short-circuit or break this armature is released fromthe solenoid by the stopping of the current, and the spring a throws thelevers, so that the bent end of the lever 02 comes against the lever 7Land forces the wheel (2 into contact with the disk, so as to shut offthe steam and stop the engine and dynamo.

This device is simple, easily regulated, and controls the work of theengine, according to the desired voltage or output of the dynamo, andstops the engine in case of any accident to the circuit.

I claim as my invention-- 1. A steam-engine governor consisting of a'valve having a spindle bearing a worm-gear, an oscillating worm meshingwith the gear, and a continuously-revolving disk adjacent to the worm,whereby the worm is rotated in opposite directions, according to itsposition of oscillation, substantially as specified.

2. A steam-engine governor consisting of a valve having a spindlebearing a worm-gear, an electro-magnet, a spring, a pivoted worm meshingwith the gear oscillated in one direction by said electro-magnet and inthe opposite direction by said spring, and a continuously-rotating diskadjacent to the worm, whereby the worm is rotated in opposite directionsby the disk, according to the variations between the pull of the magnetand spring, substantially as specified.

3. A steam-engine governor consisting of a valve having a spindlebearing a worm-gear, an electro-magnet, a spring, a pivoted worm meshingwith the gear oscillated in one direction by said 'electro-magnet and inthe opposite direction by said spring, acontinuouslyrevolving diskadjacent to the worm, whereby the worm is rotated in opposite directionsby the disk, according to the variations between the pull of the magnetand spring, a spring-retracted armature for said magnet,

and a lever pivotally connected with said spring-retracted armature,with its end in the path of oscillation of the worm, substantially asspecified.

4-. A steam-engine governor consisting of a valve having a threadedspindle bearing a worm-gear, a pivotally-supported worm meshing with thegear and bearing friction-wheels upon its opposite ends, with thearmature of an electro-magnet connected with one end and a springconnected with the opposite end of the worm, and a continuously-rotateddisk adjacent to the friction-wheel, whereby the worm is rotated inopposite directions by the disk, according to the variations between thepull of the magnet and spring, substantially as specified.

5. A steam engine governor consisting of a valve having a threadedspindle bearing a worm-gear, a lever supporting a worm meshing with thegear, with the armature of a solenoid connected with one end andaspringconnected with the opposite end of the lever. and acontinuously-revolving disk adjacent to the ends of the worm, wherebythe worm is rotated in opposite directions by the disk, according to thevariations between the pull of the solenoid and spring, substantially asspecified.

6. A steam-engine governor consisting of a valve having a threadedspindle supporting a sleeve bearing a worm-gear, a lever provided withhearing supportinga worm in mesh with the gear with the armature of asolenoid connected with one end and a spring connected to the oppositeend of the lever, a disk adjacent to the ends of the worm, and arevolving pulley connected to the disk, whereby the worm is rotated inopposite directions by the continuous revolution of the pulley,according to the variations between the pull of the solenoid and spring,substantially as specified.

FRANK M. GARLAND.

\Vitnesses:

H. R. WILLIAMs, A. 13. JENKINS.

